Originally Posted By: Paul D.
Besides "Don't get lost in the first place," or "I'm always prepared so I wouldn't have to light a fire," what should these folks have done?

Well, for the purposes of creating a long-lasting distress signal, how about just writing a huge “SOS” or “V” on the ground using available material, whether that be orange trash bags, rocks, brush, etc.? That would cover aerial search pretty well, and be completely passive once established, unlike a fire. For nearby ground spotting, the best thing I can think of to replace the smoke from a fire as a long-term signal would be a whistle.

Nighttime would be more difficult, and a strobe is the first thing to come to my mind… combined with the aforementioned whistle.
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“Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee. Sometimes old people hike by mistake.” — Demitri Martin